Moon, Marilyn (McDonald)

Age 98, of Mpls., passed away April 13, 2026. She was preceded in death by her husband John F. Moon; son, John M. Moon; parents, Darrel W. and Helen D. (Campbell) McDonald; brother John W. McDonald and sister Dee Travis (McDonald).

Survived by her Daughter, Nancy (Richard) Killmer, Grandchildren, Sarah (Richard) Powers, Katrina (Kyle) Tholen and John B. (Megan) Moon. Great Grandchildren, Avery and Owen Powers, Norah and Graeme Tholen, nieces and nephews and other family and Friends.

Born December 9, 1927, in Seattle Washington. She graduated from West Seattle High School in 1945, and Scripps College in 1950. She went on to receive her Library Science Certification in 1951 from the University of Washington Graduate School of Library and Information Science. She worked at the San Diego Library as a Children’s Librarian until she married her husband.

After raising her family, she went to work first as manager of a B. Dalton bookstore and then worked in the Hennepin County Library Services. She worked in various library branches and ended her career in the processing department, retiring in 1985.

She was very loved by her family and friends and will be greatly missed.

She always continued her education, through reading or attending classes offered at the University of Minnesota. She enjoyed going to plays at the Guthrie Theater and attending performances by the Minnesota Orchestra and the Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra.

Marilyn always enjoyed traveling and took part in many Road Scholar programs. While her husband was alive they went on several trips to the Southwest (Arizona and New Mexico). After he passed, she continued traveling on her own with Road Scholar to Nova Scotia, Patagonia, Borneo, and the Galapagos islands. She also took other trips, often with family and friends, to Scotland, England, the Netherlands, Alaska, Mexico, the Columbia River (Kayaking), the Oregon Coast, and Hawaii. She never lost her love of the West Coast and the Ocean and would travel out there every year. She also enjoyed going to Eastern Washington during harvest season.

Marilyn also had an abiding love of nature, birding, and volunteering. She volunteered as the school librarian in her children’s elementary school, Bethune Community School, Minnesota Landscape Arboretum (Research Center), and the Nature Conservancy of Minnesota.

She was a fabulous gardener, bird watcher, rock collector and enjoyed hiking and skiing.

She was a longtime supporter of Child Fund, the Nature Conservancy of MN, UNICEF, Habitat for Humanity, and the MN Arboretum.

Her Memorial Service will be held at Creekside (formerly Mayflower) U. C. C. on Saturday, August 8, 2026, at 11 am, visitation 10-11 am, with a small reception to follow the service. Interment will be at the Church’s columbarium. Church address is 106 E Diamond Lake Rd, Minneapolis, MN 55419, phone number is: (612) 824-0761.

Contact – Creekside United Church of Christ

In lieu of Flowers, please donate to the Church, MN Arboretum, or the Nature Conservancy of MN.

We will be collecting Children’s Books to donate. If possible please bring one of your favorite children's book to donate.